States That Fail to Meet Federal Child Care Safety Standards

Over a Dozen States Fail to Meet Child Care Safety Standards

Over a dozen states fail to meet federal child care safety regulations, according to an analysis of state-by-state compliance. A child care compliance dashboard for each state, by The 19^th, indicates if a state complies or fails to comply with regulations, as well as if the state data remains incomplete, according to federal regulations. For each state the report also details the number of deaths in child care for 2023, or the most recent report year. According to the report, “eight states are out of compliance with the reporting requirement, according to The 19th’s analysis and consultation with the federal Office of Child Care, the regulatory agency that oversees states’ child care systems. The 19th also found additional states beyond those on the federal office’s list that are missing data, including eight states that aren’t reporting portions of the requirement or have outdated information online, and six states that updated their reports when The 19th pointed out errors or missing data.”

Hawaii Supreme Court Upholds Gun Laws, Criticizes US Supreme Court

The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld the state’s laws that bar carrying guns in public without a license, according to Reuters on February 8. In a unanimous decision, Justice Todd Eddins wrote that under the Second Amendment, “states retain the authority to require individuals have a license before carrying firearms in public.” The court said they disagree with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings expanding gun rights; Eddins argued that the recent 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen does not prevent states from imposing gun licensing requirements.

Lawsuit Challenges Louisiana’s Unique Florist Licensing Requirements

A lawsuit filed against the Louisiana Horticulture Commission challenges the state’s florist licensing law, according to the Livingston Parish News on February 14. “Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, the lawsuit contends that these laws unjustly infringe upon constitutional rights under the Due Process, Equal Protection, and Privileges or Immunities Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.” The Pelican Institute for Public Policy states that Louisiana remains the only state in the country that requires a florist license.